In the Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives

Few companies in history have ever been as successful and as admired as Google, the company that has transformed the Internet and become an indispensable part of our lives. How has Google done it? Veteran technology reporter Steven Levy was granted unprecedented access to the company, and in this revelatory book he takes listeners inside Google headquarters - the Googleplex - to explain how Google works.

Some audio books bore me to death, but this guy has an enthusiastic voice and inflection that made the content more exciting.

I listened to this book for the last few weeks during my lunch hour, and it couldn't wait to finish each chapter. I've been a user of Google for a long time, but now I see the company in a completely different light. I guess you could say that I'm a "fan" now!

I'm not sure how the typical consumer would react to this book, but from an I.T. professional's perspective -- it was digital candy for my mind. I only wish the book wouldn't have ended, and continued on as a real time blog so I that could keep up on current events at Google, as they unfold.

It was truly an enjoyable story about the rise of a great, modern company that's still growing and changing the way people interact online.

Neuromancer

Twenty years ago, it was as if someone turned on a light. The future blazed into existence with each deliberate word that William Gibson laid down. The winner of Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick Awards, Neuromancer didn't just explode onto the science fiction scene - it permeated into the collective consciousness, culture, science, and technology.Today, there is only one science fiction masterpiece to thank for the term "cyberpunk," for easing the way into the information age and Internet society.

The amazing language used by the author created vivid and realistic images in my mind. The reader's voice was a little creepy, at first, when he attempted the female character voices, but I became accustomed to the sound and compensated.

I can easily see that this was a primary source for many other stories and movies since it was released. Why have I never seen a Neuromancer movie? I mean, we definitely have the technology to create most of what I saw in my own mind. Johnny Mnemonic is the closest thing I have seen in the way of this style of story. Suddenly, The Matrix seems like a cheap copy-cat. I absolutely wish this story would be made into a movie.

Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions

Enchantment, as defined by bestselling business guru Guy Kawasaki, is not about manipulating people. It transforms situations and relationships. It converts hostility into civility and civility into affinity. It changes the skeptics and cynics into the believers and the undecided into the loyal. Enchantment can happen during a retail transaction, a high-level corporate negotiation, or a Facebook update.

I ordered this book after reading articles and watching video clips about how great is was, but it turned out to be a random collection of general knowledge, peppered with drooling Apple product advocation and anti-(Adobe)Flash statements about how a web site home page should appear. I really was hoping that this would provide some insight into the psychology of customer motivation and product/service marketing, but it turned out to be (in my opinion) overstatement of the obvious.

Hey, the advertising worked on me, so there must be some magic in there somewhere!

Eat People: An Unapologetic Plan for Entrepreneurial Success

Here's how entrepreneurs find the next big thing-and make it huge. The era of easy money and easy jobs is officially over. Today, we're all entrepreneurs, and the tides of change threaten to capsize anyone who plays it safe. Taking risks is the name of the game - but how can you tell a smart bet from a stupid gamble? Andy Kessler offers 12 surprising and controversial rules for these radical entrepreneurs.

It was refreshing to enjoy honesty in the face of so much irritating walk-on-eggshell politically-correct touchy-feeling garbage that's floating around. This is good stuff and should be mandatory for all.

The funny thing is that I signed up for Audible to obtain a different book that wasn't nearly as good. I selected this one as part of the free sign-up credit, based upon a suggestion ad in the side-bar! That's the first ad I'm glad to have seen.

Now, I can't wait to hear other books by Andy. It had a perfect mix of serious knowledge and light humor to make each section as enjoyable as the last. I plan to listen to this one over and over. It gave me the motivation to move some of my business ideas out of my head and into reality -- especially ideas that have the potential to create wealth, rather than simply shift some of what's left into my pockets.

0 of
0 people found this review helpful

Report Inappropriate Content

If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.

Your report has been received. It will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.

Can't wait to hear more from this listener?

You can now follow your favorite reviewers on Audible.

When you follow another listener, we'll highlight the books they review, and even email* you a copy of any new reviews they write. You can un-follow a listener at any time to stop receiving their updates.

* If you already opted out of emails from Audible you will still get review emails by the listeners you follow.